Murray County Central School Board met on Monday, August 9th. The Board reviewed and approved the financials for the month along with the claims. They also reviewed policy changes/updates to the Online Learning and Fund Balance policies. For any students doing online learning this year, the district has teamed up with Stars Academy through the co-op. The Fund Balance Policy did get the recommended amount to keep on hand adjusted from 12% to 20%. The Board agreed that if they feel it is too much, they will adjust at the next annual review of the policy. There were minor changes to Family and Medical Leave Policy; Harassment and Violence; Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse; Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults; Student Discipline; Bullying Prohibition Policy; Student Sex Nondiscrimination; School District System Accountability; and Crisis Management Policy.
The Board also approved the following personnel changes:
CERTIFIED STAFF
Beukema, Ryann ECSE
Biren, Joe Head FFA Advisor
Bly, Darla Head Jr./Sr. Class Advisor
Bobeldyk, Kati Elementary Yearbook
Bobeldyk, Tim Junior High Football
Bobeldyk, Tim Elementary School Patrol
Cariveau, Tim Assistant Varsity Football
Cole, Kaitlin Vocal Music Elementary
Crosby, Tyson Junior High Football
Damm, Dominick H e a d Coach Cross Country
DeLong, Kate Head Volleyball
DeLong, Kim Secondary Yearbook
Freeman, Lucas Assistant Varsity Football
Freeman, Patrick Secondary Teacher
Freeman, Patrick Assistant Jr./Sr. Class Advisor
Freeman, Patrick H e a d Football
Freeman, Patrick Minnesota Honor Society
Gergen, Christie Vocal Music Secondary
Haberman, Paul Assistant FFA Advisor
Haken, Ashley Assistant Jr./Sr. Class Advisor
Helgeson, Mike Instrumental Music
Kluis, Bridget Assistant Varsity Volleyball
Larson, Christine Elementary Enrichment Coordinator
Nau, KristinAssistant Varsity Cross Country
Neubarth, Adam Assistant Varsity Football
Reinert, Brittney Junior High Volleyball
Wajer, James District Wide Athletic Director
Wajer, JamesAssistant Jr./Sr. Class Advisor
CLASSIFIED STAFF
Mathiowetz, Kari H e a d Cheerleading Advisor
Tedrick, Kory Junior High Volleyball
Wieneke, ElissaHigh School Student Council Advisor
RESIGNATION/RETIREMENT
Erickson, Raeann Paraprofessional
Gervais, Kristi Paraprofessional
Kirchner, Gayleen Cook
Veldhuisen, Henry Assistant Softball Coach
Karla Ray was present during the open forum to inquire the plans/policy for students who have been exposed to someone with COVID this next school year. Superintendent Joe Meyer explained they will follow the recommendations passed down to them from the MDE. At this time (and remember this is a fluid process) masks will not be required for the start of the school year. Also, if a student or staff is fully vaccinated, they will not need to quarantine unless they are showing symptoms.
The Board first received an update of the Elementary school from Todd Burlingame. He reported that things are moving right along for the start of the school year. Due North Summer School had 37 participants in preschool to 6th grade. Their last day was Thursday, August 5th. Thank you to all those who assisted with this program. The Extended School Year had 7 students in the program. They will be done on August 11th. The buildings are ready for students and teachers to come back. Thank you to the custodial staff for the hard work. Registration is happening this week. Shop With A Cop is Monday August 16th. Trainings for staff also begins the week of the 16th. Back to school workshops will be the week of August 30th with Thursday September 2nd being the staff picnic.
Jacob Scandrett, secondary principal, next gave his report. The high school is also ready for students and staff. They are finishing final prep for the workshops to begin. 7th Grade orientation is Wednesday, September 1st at 7pm. This will give the students the opportunity to find their classrooms and lockers, meet their teachers and get comfortable for the first day of school. Scandrett will be attending a data mine workshop in Westbrook on the 18th to go over the MCA scores for the district. The school will have a booth at the Murray County Fair again this year and he encourages staff to sit a spell in the booth. The Fall Sports Eligibility meeting was Monday, August 9th as well. There will be an update from Athletic Director James Wajer at the next meeting.
Meyer provided his district update for the Board. The auditors are coming this next week. MCC will have an entry in the Parade on Saturday, August 21st. Annual staff picnic will be Thursday, September 2nd from 11:30 to 12:30 all are welcome to meet and greet the new staff. The second vaccine clinic on July 13th had 21 individuals receiving the vaccine. There is a Preparedness Plan in place for the start of the school year and the ongoing COVID situation. This can be found on the MCC website https://www.mcc.mntm.org. Building updates are completed or near completion. The roof on the west side of the building is complete and the new dust collector is going in. All floors are complete, and they are working on the auditorium stage.
Moving on to Old Business; the Board had the final reading of Policies 516, 614-615, 617-621, 623-624 and 701. These were approved and adopted. Charlotte Lindberg reviewed with the Board the updated Classroom Procedures of Operation as well as the Employee Handbook. These have been streamlined to unify processes and make it easier for new hires and current staff to find things. Meyer presented a change to the Activities Handbook. He had been approached by some of the coaches and they want to allow student athletes to do dual sports. The students will need to declare one sport as primary, should there be a scheduling conflict. This would also need to be signed and approved by the student, parents, and AD. We are one of very few schools that do not offer this option. The Board approved this change. They tabled the discussion on the Mascot until next month as the group working on this does not have any new information to present.
New Business included the first reading of the Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy. The language was adopted from the MDE. They also reviewed the changes to the After School Care Handbook. The only real change is the rate per day is going to $8 per day/per child.
Donations were accepted from the Football Boosters for $738.58 for Practice Jerseys and $266.03 for UA bags. They also received a donation from Hearts & Hands of Murray County for $206 for after school care tuition.
With no other business, the meeting was adjourned. The next School Board meeting will be September 13th at 6pm.
